Our History
The Coral Specialist Group (CSG) was established in 2008, following the World Conservation Congress in Barcelona. The results from the first global Red List assessment of reef-building corals highlighted the urgent need to assess the health of coral species and understand their extinction risks:
Milestones:
Conducted the first global IUCN Red List assessment of reef-building corals, revealing that one-third of species faced extinction.
Eco Magazine recognized the CSG as a Top 15 Coral Reef Research Contributor for its work on Red List assessments.
Completed a comprehensive reassessment of 892 coral species, finding that over 44% are at risk, reinforcing the increasing urgency for conservation initiatives and actions.
Throughout its history, the CSG has remained dedicated to enhancing the understanding of coral species, identifying emerging threats, and guiding science-based conservation efforts to protect these vital marine ecosystems.